tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913809019892464272018-03-06T08:37:42.015-08:00Keeping The ZooJessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11492646642883121179noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691380901989246427.post-15998409356017510072013-01-04T05:03:00.001-08:002013-01-04T05:03:22.710-08:00The best laid plans...Oh, my goodness, how time has flown.&nbsp; I had the best of intentions to document all of our adventures this school year, but then the first week of September we found out we are expecting our third bundle of joy!&nbsp; Super happy news, but what a motivation killer!&nbsp; I spent the first half of this pregnancy face down on the couch, I'm afraid.&nbsp; The sickness lasted most of the day, and it was difficult to keep up with the very basic of tasks, much less&nbsp;updating anything here!&nbsp; But, I'm happy to report that I am feeling more or less human again and hope to revisit this little corner of cyberspace.&nbsp; I do have some pictures that I've taken over the past several months I hope to post soon.&nbsp; And we are plugging along with our homeschooling adventure, so hopefully I'll have some new things to share!Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11492646642883121179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691380901989246427.post-71565415786493817932012-08-16T21:18:00.000-07:002012-08-16T21:18:00.390-07:00Dinosaur Day Camp - Day ThreeWe continued with Dino fun on day three.&nbsp; We continued reading the Magic Treehouse Book, which my daughter is enjoying.&nbsp; The day's focus was on the T-rex.&nbsp; We followed up the story with a couple of fun T-rex activities.&nbsp; The first was to build a t-rex using <span id="goog_731084222"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_731084223"><a href="http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/Trexcutout.shtml" target="_blank">this</a> template.&nbsp; Essentially, it's a paper t-rex "puzzle" that you cut out and piece together so that it can stand.&nbsp; Here's my daughter creating her t-rex:</span><br /><br />Coloring...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JfS1HYxsR7M/UCh7i1byANI/AAAAAAAAADQ/Y_MTKOfemCE/s1600/P1020017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JfS1HYxsR7M/UCh7i1byANI/AAAAAAAAADQ/Y_MTKOfemCE/s320/P1020017.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />She decided her t-rex needed a leash, so we broke out the yarn.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-czZclSTe3C0/UCh7q2Lr4pI/AAAAAAAAADY/90f3tlt-2g0/s1600/P1020019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-czZclSTe3C0/UCh7q2Lr4pI/AAAAAAAAADY/90f3tlt-2g0/s320/P1020019.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />Our t-rex happens to be a girl, of course, complete with blue eyes, eyelashes, and a bow on her head and tail.&nbsp; Takes some of the fierceness out the the creatures, for sure!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tNwg4fjH-Tw/UCh7zCuQORI/AAAAAAAAADg/QCOw2yEB0gw/s1600/P1020025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tNwg4fjH-Tw/UCh7zCuQORI/AAAAAAAAADg/QCOw2yEB0gw/s320/P1020025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our next activity was similar, but this time we stuffed a two sided t-rex.&nbsp; I'm so sorry, but I don't remember the website I printed the template from to give proper credit, but if I stumble upon it again I will add a link.&nbsp; We printed two pictures, cut them out and stapled them together leaving a small opening for stuffing.&nbsp; My daughter stuffed the dino with cotton balls and then stapled the opening shut.&nbsp; Here's the process:</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3XlxgoPCKzs/UCh-pe-vh5I/AAAAAAAAADw/ptzx27hNcdQ/s1600/P1020026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3XlxgoPCKzs/UCh-pe-vh5I/AAAAAAAAADw/ptzx27hNcdQ/s320/P1020026.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br />And the finished product!&nbsp; Slightly less girly, but still with the blue eyes. :)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xll8C88Zn3c/UCh-xsIgwyI/AAAAAAAAAD8/domHMeRhlDI/s1600/P1020030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xll8C88Zn3c/UCh-xsIgwyI/AAAAAAAAAD8/domHMeRhlDI/s320/P1020030.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br />And the dinosaur face off!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fc9A2DIzAwM/UCh-6aUOVLI/AAAAAAAAAEE/JbVDhavfTjg/s1600/P1020031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fc9A2DIzAwM/UCh-6aUOVLI/AAAAAAAAAEE/JbVDhavfTjg/s320/P1020031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finally, to round out the day, we played this <a href="http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/dinosaurs/buildadino/" target="_blank">Build a Dinosaur</a> activity on the Scholastic website.&nbsp; Until our next prehistoric adventure...</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">﻿</div>Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11492646642883121179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691380901989246427.post-5024098690861387892012-08-14T20:49:00.000-07:002012-08-14T20:49:00.166-07:00CSA - Week FourAnother week of yummy produce to enjoy.&nbsp; I'm having to get creative with the zucchini - between the CSA and my own garden, we are being taken over!&nbsp; But it's not a bad problem to have.&nbsp; Come winter we'll really miss the stuff!&nbsp; Here's this week's share...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n6qRalADC0E/UCh4WUWnRNI/AAAAAAAAAC8/P6_479dMpNY/s1600/P1020034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n6qRalADC0E/UCh4WUWnRNI/AAAAAAAAAC8/P6_479dMpNY/s320/P1020034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />It includes zucchini (of course!), squash, tomatoes, garlic, peas, radishes, cabbage, cucumbers, and blackberries.&nbsp; I'm going to make freezer jam with the blackberries because we just can't eat them fast enough and I need to clear the fridge for vacation.&nbsp; I think I'll pass the peas along to friends - we just don't care much for them around here.&nbsp; So, that leaves the cabbage and radishes to deal with.&nbsp; Still not sure how to use up the heads of cabbage and not sure about the radishes, either.&nbsp; I don't care much for them raw, but I've never had them any other way.&nbsp; My husband likes them alright sliced on a salad, so that's probably as creative as I'll get.&nbsp; I'll miss a couple of weeks due to vacation - my MIL will be enjoying the shares in my place until we get back.<br />Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11492646642883121179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691380901989246427.post-57067839046996713392012-08-12T20:42:00.001-07:002012-08-12T20:51:06.827-07:00CSA - Week ThreeWe are still so enjoying our CSA share!&nbsp; Here's our haul for week three:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QEhF3k534Go/UCh3GnuLpNI/AAAAAAAAAC0/K6LwpllRdMo/s1600/P1020011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QEhF3k534Go/UCh3GnuLpNI/AAAAAAAAAC0/K6LwpllRdMo/s320/P1020011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />I must confess I cheated a bit and also included several zucchini that I picked from my own garden over the weekend.&nbsp; But, the share included zucchini, squash, cucumbers, popping corn, garlic, tomatoes, garlic scapes,&nbsp;blackberries, and cabbage.&nbsp; I don't work with cabbage very much, so I'm a bit at a loss as to how to use this up.&nbsp; My husband doesn't like cole slaw, and I've never cooked cabbage.&nbsp; Guess I'll have to google some recipes!<br />Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11492646642883121179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691380901989246427.post-1072235248443329322012-07-06T16:01:00.000-07:002012-07-06T16:01:00.171-07:00Dinosaur Camp - Day TwoMore dinosaur fun to be had!&nbsp; We read some more from the Magic Treehouse Dinosaurs Before Dark book.&nbsp; Then, we did some dinosaur activities.&nbsp; First up, we went to <a href="http://www.hellokids.com/c_12333/activities/howto-" target="_blank">this website</a>&nbsp;where there a step by step instructions on how to draw a number of fun things.&nbsp; We started with the dinosaur section, where my daughter really enjoyed drawing this guy:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jk_xaeK6VYA/T_YV64EVeZI/AAAAAAAAABk/sE4c_H6n4mM/s1600/P1010998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jk_xaeK6VYA/T_YV64EVeZI/AAAAAAAAABk/sE4c_H6n4mM/s320/P1010998.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />It's a pteranodon, in case you couldn't tell. :)&nbsp; She drew the dinosaurs, then decided to move on to fruits and fairy tale characters.&nbsp; Not exactly on topic, but fun for her nonetheless.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfo2pCb-G6o/T_YWOedy_dI/AAAAAAAAABs/FXiNVhBKob8/s1600/P1010997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfo2pCb-G6o/T_YWOedy_dI/AAAAAAAAABs/FXiNVhBKob8/s320/P1010997.JPG" width="240" /></a>She loves to draw and had no art classes at school last year (budget cuts), so I was happy to let her have at the drawing for a while.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We then made a couple of pteranodon crafts inspired by those found on <a href="http://www.makinglearningfun.com/">www.makinglearningfun.com</a>, which is a great resource.&nbsp; Here's what we ended up with:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k3tmlq0v6Jc/T_YaMTlGZGI/AAAAAAAAACE/aa1IotiAxfk/s1600/P1020002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k3tmlq0v6Jc/T_YaMTlGZGI/AAAAAAAAACE/aa1IotiAxfk/s320/P1020002.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-suOS5YHeyBI/T_YZEUt9DnI/AAAAAAAAAB4/AkFrMqg8Scg/s1600/P1020003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-suOS5YHeyBI/T_YZEUt9DnI/AAAAAAAAAB4/AkFrMqg8Scg/s320/P1020003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A pteranodon cut and assembled&nbsp;from a paper plate.&nbsp; My daughter tired of coloring quickly. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BNwoGjfoAaI/T_Yac0Tr8dI/AAAAAAAAACM/IsgNjBzeKV8/s1600/P1020004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BNwoGjfoAaI/T_Yac0Tr8dI/AAAAAAAAACM/IsgNjBzeKV8/s320/P1020004.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UAkR7JK0t0U/T_YawvvZa3I/AAAAAAAAACU/_tKvQiP1Pv4/s1600/P1020005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UAkR7JK0t0U/T_YawvvZa3I/AAAAAAAAACU/_tKvQiP1Pv4/s320/P1020005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A pteranodon "puppet" from a toilet paper tube.&nbsp; Cute!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also found a very cool <a href="http://dsc.discovery.com/video-topics/other/pterosaur-flying-high.htm" target="_blank">website</a> which has video replications of dinosaurs and what they might have looked like back in the day.&nbsp; My daughter spent quite some time going through these short video clips.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finally, I packed this lunch in honor of dinosaur camp.&nbsp; We&nbsp;ate at the park and I surprised my daughter with a fun themed lunch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lcLpzJhpe6I/T_Ych1SCT4I/AAAAAAAAACo/mTnDcEU-a1Q/s1600/P1010992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lcLpzJhpe6I/T_Ych1SCT4I/AAAAAAAAACo/mTnDcEU-a1Q/s320/P1010992.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's a dino shaped salami sandwich on wheat bread, strawberries, cookies (to share), and a yogurt tube on the side.&nbsp; Looking forward to our next day of dinosaur camp!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">﻿</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: TT16o00; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: TT16o00; font-size: x-large;"></span></span>Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11492646642883121179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691380901989246427.post-18257573819132676932012-07-05T15:27:00.000-07:002012-07-05T15:27:08.908-07:00CSA - Week TwoHere's a picture of our CSA haul this week:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ASFTrzfdHGc/T_YT5L8qF2I/AAAAAAAAABc/Vks0w83LNp0/s1600/P1010995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ASFTrzfdHGc/T_YT5L8qF2I/AAAAAAAAABc/Vks0w83LNp0/s320/P1010995.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Included are cucumbers, pickling cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, green onions, more garlic scapes, tomatoes, and on the cob popcorn.&nbsp; I just love having a fridge full of fresh veggies, although with the harvest from my own garden, we are nearly buried in zucchini.&nbsp; I'm cooking it as often as my family will let me get away with, but it seems to be multiplying!&nbsp; Anyway, not a terrible problem to have, I suppose.&nbsp; My daughter is excited to pop up the popcorn - should be yummy!<br />Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11492646642883121179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691380901989246427.post-24067454039660697472012-07-03T22:06:00.000-07:002012-07-03T22:06:44.390-07:00Garlic "Escapes" - CSA Week OneThis year we decided to join a CSA,&nbsp;or Community Supported Agriculture.&nbsp; Essentially, you pay an annual fee upfront to a local farm at the beginning of the growing season which then entitles you to a share of the harvest for the year.&nbsp; I was so excited to get our first allotment!&nbsp; The first week we got zucchini, cucumbers, pickling cucumbers, tomatoes, and something I was not familiar with - garlic scapes.&nbsp; Or, as my daughter keeps calling them, garlic escapes.&nbsp; They are basically the green shoot which forms above ground as a garlic bulb grows underground.&nbsp; Mine looked like this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fx_E4p0dx3Y/T_PK570L_oI/AAAAAAAAAA8/s-ULVj9uEZY/s1600/P1010983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fx_E4p0dx3Y/T_PK570L_oI/AAAAAAAAAA8/s-ULVj9uEZY/s320/P1010983.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Crazy, right?&nbsp; I did some googling and found that these babies have the flavor of garlic, but in a much milder form.&nbsp; I searched through my Google Reader for inspiration, and came across <a href="http://andrea-thekitchenwitch.blogspot.com/2011/06/pasta-with-garlic-scapes-peas-and.html" target="_blank">this recipe</a>&nbsp;which looked like it would fit the bill.&nbsp; I made a few changes for our tastes, and here's my finished product:&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iZNkKuitFfo/T_PLMzKUWuI/AAAAAAAAABM/rEQwwTLE3yg/s1600/P1010991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iZNkKuitFfo/T_PLMzKUWuI/AAAAAAAAABM/rEQwwTLE3yg/s320/P1010991.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />I did add some grilled chicken on top for my husband because he doesn't really do meatless meals, but I thought it was just perfect without.&nbsp; Overall, I liked the garlic scape, although I need to work on removing all the woody parts.&nbsp; Some of them were a bit tough.&nbsp; But the mild garlic flavor was nice.&nbsp; Good thing we liked it, because word on the street is that garlic scapes will be making more appearances in our CSA shares.&nbsp; So, I'm on the lookout for recipes using them..&nbsp; Here's the pasta recipe as I made it...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pasta with Garlic Scapes</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Adapted from <a href="http://pasta%20with%20garlic%20scapes,%20peas%20and%20asiago%20cream%20sauce/" target="_blank">Andrea the Kitchen Witch</a></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Makes 2 servings</span><br />8 oz spaghetti <br />4 garlic scapes<br />1/2 c frozen corn<br />1 T butter<br />1 T olive oil<br />1/4 c chicken broth<br />1/4 c heavy cream<br />1/2 c fresh grated Parmesan cheese<br />salt<br />pepper<br /><br />First, cut garlic scapes into 1/2 inch pieces with kitchen shears.&nbsp; I thought I got rid of all the&nbsp;tough, woody ends, but I did not.&nbsp;I hope to do better next time!<br /><br />Boil spaghetti noodles&nbsp;according to instructions on box. While pasta cooks prepare sauce.<br /><br />Heat a skillet over medium high heat. Add butter and oil, once butter has melted add the garlic scapes. Toss to coat in fat and cook about 1 minute, until the scapes smell fragrant and are barely brown. Add the&nbsp;frozen corn&nbsp;and cook 1 minute longer, garlic scapes will start to brown.&nbsp; Here's what mine looked like at this point:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cr-1-gBMRiQ/T_PLEG1xZdI/AAAAAAAAABE/dN2jmQhcAzc/s1600/P1010989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cr-1-gBMRiQ/T_PLEG1xZdI/AAAAAAAAABE/dN2jmQhcAzc/s320/P1010989.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp; <br />Already looking and smelling yummy!<br /><br />Add the&nbsp;chicken broth and&nbsp;reduce&nbsp;by half. Add the heavy&nbsp;cream, salt &amp; pepper and&nbsp;Parmesan cheese. Stir to melt and incorporate cheese into sauce. Add cooked and drained pasta, toss with sauce and serve.&nbsp; As I mentioned, I browned up a couple of chicken tenders seasoned with salt and pepper to put over top of my husband's portion.&nbsp; He enjoyed this as well, and he's not a huge fan of pasta in general.&nbsp; Can't wait for next week's share!Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11492646642883121179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691380901989246427.post-44482478599140849562012-07-01T14:39:00.000-07:002012-07-01T15:30:51.897-07:00Dinosaur Camp - Day 1As I mentioned, we will be homeschooling my 1st grade daughter next year.&nbsp; We will not be doing "traditional" homeschooling, but rather using an eschool, or online public school.&nbsp; The one we have chosen is OHVA (Ohio Virtual Academy), which is powered by the K12 curriculum.&nbsp; K12 is offering themed camps thoughout the summer for various grade levels.&nbsp; These are optional, but seemed like fun so we are checking them out starting this week!&nbsp; The first theme is Dinosaurs, so we've been having lots of prehistoric fun!&nbsp; As part of the camp, we are reading The Magic Treehouse Dinosaurs Before Dark, which my daughter has been enjoying.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0679824111/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link"><img alt="Dinosaurs Before Dark (Magic Tree House, No. 1)" border="0" height="300" id="prodImage" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZEPM3J52L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" width="300" /></a><br /><br />For today's activities, we first made a dinosaur out of pasta.&nbsp; We were inspired by&nbsp;<a href="http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Dinosaur-Bones.html" target="_blank">this project</a>, but we didn't use the printable template.&nbsp; My daughter went out on her own and created this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UX3kwFYp5Ns/T_C_Ht3eroI/AAAAAAAAAAM/DU-fJlKpZ3A/s1600/P1010988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UX3kwFYp5Ns/T_C_Ht3eroI/AAAAAAAAAAM/DU-fJlKpZ3A/s320/P1010988.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />Who knew dinosaurs were so happy?&nbsp; We used spaghetti, penne, macaroni, and black beans.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Next up, we made good old fashioned salt dough to make imprints, or fossils.&nbsp; We used 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, and 3/4 cup water.&nbsp; Here's some pics of the process.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-snWx3wRrbGw/T_DA5xWvKJI/AAAAAAAAAAU/DAwcTxPwC7M/s1600/P1010977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-snWx3wRrbGw/T_DA5xWvKJI/AAAAAAAAAAU/DAwcTxPwC7M/s320/P1010977.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Carefully measuring ingredients.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KGp2Us233oE/T_DBEMiL66I/AAAAAAAAAAc/KvLLRLdcTEk/s1600/P1010978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KGp2Us233oE/T_DBEMiL66I/AAAAAAAAAAc/KvLLRLdcTEk/s320/P1010978.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The fossil maker and her marginally helpful&nbsp;sous chef.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-559bpjgBwgU/T_DBMB5KgwI/AAAAAAAAAAk/zcOxLmztsMY/s1600/P1010979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-559bpjgBwgU/T_DBMB5KgwI/AAAAAAAAAAk/zcOxLmztsMY/s320/P1010979.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Imprinting the fossil.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJjiYFuhu2o/T_DBUjpLtAI/AAAAAAAAAAw/GdtnmkMI720/s1600/P1010980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJjiYFuhu2o/T_DBUjpLtAI/AAAAAAAAAAw/GdtnmkMI720/s320/P1010980.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Finished product.&nbsp; We made several fossils with handprints and cookie cutters.&nbsp; Not all of them made it to the oven because of damage by the aforementioned sous chef, but we baked some at 350 for about an hour to harden, but not to&nbsp;brown.&nbsp; These "fossils" can then be painted, but we haven't gotten that far quite yet.&nbsp; We had so much fun with the first day of dinosaur fun - can't wait for the second!<br /><br />Linked to:<br /><br /><a href="http://binspiredmama.blogspot.com/search/label/Kid%27s%20Co-op" target="_blank"><img alt="Kids Co-op" height="125" src="http://rainydaymum.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/comeplayatkidsco-op.jpg" width="125" /></a>Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11492646642883121179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691380901989246427.post-71134781563184220382012-06-27T21:02:00.000-07:002012-06-27T21:02:39.902-07:00Hello! My Name Is...So, after years of blog stalking, I have decided to join the fray and start my own.&nbsp; Specifically, I hope to document my family's newest venture, which will be homeschooling my soon to be first grader.&nbsp; I also hope to post on other random topics in my wonderful world of homemaking, like feeding my family, decorating my home, and entertaining my crazy kids.&nbsp; Speaking of, I have two&nbsp;hilarious daughters, one six and one eighteen months.&nbsp; They keep me on my toes, for sure.&nbsp; Add to that my wonderful husband of nearly eleven years and that sums up my lovely family!&nbsp; I have a lot to learn in blogland, but I can't wait to get started!Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11492646642883121179noreply@blogger.com0